Question: What is wajib upon us regarding the people who are in authority over us or the Hukaam (Rulers)?

Answer: Wishing them well, its explanation is that they are supported regarding the truth, they are followed and obeyed. That they be advised with softness, they are prayed behind, jihaad should be performed with them, they should be given the zakah and charity, having patience on some of their minor impressions and injustice, weapons are not raised against them up until the open kufr is apparent from them. They are not pushed into deceit by fabricated lies and supplications be performed for them for the sake of guidance and rectification.

Question: What are the proofs?

Answer: Allaah says,

“O you who believe obey Allaah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad (صلى الله علیه وسلم)) and those of you who are in authority.” [Soorah an-Nisaa (4):59]

The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله علیه وسلم) said,

“Hear and obey even if he is a slave” [SAHEEH. Bukhaaree (no’s 693, 696, 7142), Ibn Maajah (no.2760), Bayhaqee in as-Sunan al-Kubraa (8/155) and Musnad Ahmad in his Musnad (6/403)]

The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله علیه وسلم) also said,

“Whoever sees something disliked from the ameer, he should have patience with it because whoever separates from the jamaa’ah by a hand span and if he died he would die the death of Jaahiliyyah.” [AGREED UPON. On the authority of Ibn Abbaas (Ra). Bukhaaree (no’s 7053, 7054, 7143), Muslim (no’s 55, 56) and Ahmad in his Musnad (1/275, 297, 310)]

It is the saying of Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit who said,

The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله علیه وسلم) called us and we gave him the pledge of allegiance, from the pledge of allegiance was obeying him in both situations of happiness and sorrow, hardship and ease and in precedence over us and we do not take the kingdom of the ruler except when we see open disbelief for which he has no proof from Allaah.” [SAHEEH. Bukhaaree (no 7052), Muslim (no’s 41, 42), Nasaa’ee (no’s 4153, 4154), Ibn Maajah (no.2766), Ahmad (3/144, 5/316).

It is another saying of the Apostle of Allaah (صلى الله علیه وسلم),

“It is obligatory upon every Muslim to obey that which he likes and dislikes except when he is commanded to sin, then it is obligatory upon the believer not to hear or obey.” [AGREED UPON. On the authority of Ibn Umar (Ra). Bukhaaree (no.2955, 7144), Muslim (no.38), Tirmidhee (no.1707), Ibn Maajah (no.2864), Abu Dawood (no.2626), Nasaa’ee (no.4206)]

[hadeeth]“Even if he strikes your back and takes your wealth, then still hear and obey.” [SAHEEH. On the authority of Hudhaifah (رضي الله عنه‎) which is a part of a lengthier hadeeth. Muslim (no.52). Another hadeeth with similar meaning has been reported by Ubaadah as-Saamit by Ibn Hibbaan (no.4547).]

In another place he (صلى الله علیه وسلم) said,

“Whoever withdrew his hand from obedience, then will meet Allaah on the day of judgement in the condition that he will have no proof nor an excuse and whoever dies without the allegiance to the ameer round his neck, then he dies the death of Jaahiliyyah.” [SAHEEH. On the authority of Ibn Umar (Ra). Muslim (no58), Haakim (1/77, 117) who authenticated it according to the conditions of the two Shaikhs and Dhahabee agreed. Imaam Al-Albaanee (رحمه الله) also authenticated in As-Saheehah (no.984) and in Saheeh al-Jaam’e (no.6105)]

In another place he (صلى الله علیه وسلم) said,

“Whosoever wishes to divide the affair of this ummah into pieces when the ummah is united, then kill him with a sword even if he is a person.” [HADEETH SAHEEH. On the authority of Arfajah. Muslim (no.59, 60), Abu Dawood in As-Sunnah, the chapter of killing the Khawaarij (no.4762), Nasaa’ee (4020, 4023) and Ahmad (4/261, 341, 5/24).]

In another place he (صلى الله علیه وسلم) said,

“There will be such leaders of the jamaa’ah you will recognise and you will abandon their bad actions, and whoever dislikes their actions will be worse... and whoever rejects them will be protected. But whoever remains pleased with them and follows them, the people asked, “Shall we fight such people?” He said, “No! Up until they establish the prayer.” [HADEETH SAHEEH. On the authority of Umm Salamah (radiAllaahu ‘anhaa). Muslim (no.62, 63, 64), Abu Dawood in As-Sunnah, the chapter of killing the Khawaarij (no.4760), Tirmidhee (no.2265), and Ahmad (6/295, 302, 305, 321)]

All these ahadeeth are mentioned in the six most authentic books of hadeeth.

We encourage the distribution of material from this site without any consent from
the site maintainer(s).

You may copy, distribute, print, or translate to any
language without changing the meaning of the contents, as long as you place
reference for The Clear Path (http://www.theclearpath.com)

Important Disclaimer: The Clear Path is a website produced
for the dissemination of Islaamic Knowledge from the Qur'aan and Sunnah in
accordance with the methodology of the Salaf-us-Saaliheen.
The Clear Path is free of any attachment to any individuals
or organisations except for the Major Scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah of our time and our
Salaf. The Clear Path is not responsible for the content of
any external links or of any sites that link to it.